PHOTO: The Monrovia City Hall Panel
By E. Festus G Frazer Jr, efgfrazerjr@gmail.com
One of Liberia’s Nobel Peace Laurette Laymah Gbowee along with other prominent Liberian women have called on Women in Liberia to exert themselves and be intentional in all they do, if they must archive their goals.
Madam Layma Gbowee was one of several panelists that participated in a panel discussion at the Lone Star Cell MTN She Series held at the Monrovia City Hall in commemoration of the international women’s day on Monday, March 8, 2021.
According to Madam Gbowee, women must put in their all if they must archive the changes the envisaged.
She added that if they must bridge the gap between them and their male counterparts, they must be very intentional and passionate in all they do if they must break the barriers of stereotype and inequality that have existed between them and their male counterparts.
“Exert yourselves and be intentional if you must archive your goals and dreams and get on paths with men. Don’t see yourselves as people can not make, be persistent and consistent, men will not take you seriously, you have to exert yourselves,” she urged.
The Liberian Nobel Laureate reflected on how she was been described by some males as brutal for her being intentional in all she does. She maintained that women participation and equality are indispensable in making chage, as such women should desist from those traditional mentalities of being house wives and care takers and step up to their games.
Aslo speaking during the panel discussion, the chief information officer for Lone Star Cell MTN, Titilope Fakuade told the attendees that women face numerous challenges especially in the employment industry, adding that if those challenges must be curtailed they must put in their very best wherever they find themselves. She said it is about time that women stand up to bridge the gap between them and their male counterparts. She maintained that women need to be on top of their games to make their presence felt, adding that the values that come with be focused and prepared are enormous.
“Women in this room today, we must learn to be stand up and compete. There are so many challenges confronting us everywhere we find.”
At the same time, the business manager for Lonestar Cell MTN, Princess Eva Cooper called on the participants to know their worth.
She emphasized how women are qualified as compared to males but have been perceived as people without skill.
The Lone Star Cell MTN official used the occasion to call on the attendees to surround themselves with people who believed in them whenever they are opportune to serve in other positions.
She further asserted that women must be heard and seen and give their very best to every job they find themselves doing. “Let’s lay aside fear, step up to our games and put in our very best in all we find ourselves doing.” Princess Eva Cooper intoned.
The Executive Director of Community Health Initiative, Naomi Solanke explained that over the years women have been stereotyped while at the same time they have been told what career to choose who to marry etc.
But when they stand up collectively and network to find solutions to those problems, they can become major competitors to their male counterparts, Madam Solanke said.
She maintained that women should search themselves and see how they can find solutions to those major challenges that are confronting then. “As we leave this room to today, let us search ourselves and see how we can find amicable solutions to the problems confronting us. Let’s see ourselves as major competitors to men,” she furthered.
At the same time, several young people who spoke on the second panel revealed how they have used the social Media platforms to promote the work they do.
They advised the audience to make maximum use of various social media platforms to make their work easier.
The marketing department of Lonestar Cell MTN used the occasion to launch its product entitled: YELP. According to the GSM network, the department the program is designed specifically for females at the moment. They maintained that the program was designed to help women and girls report SGBV and rape cases as well as other issues that endanger their wellbeing or threatened their securities.
According to them, the program can be assessed by dialing,*911# to contact the emergency contacts of the would-be victims or insecure person (specifically females). They further revealed that there are plans to partner with those working for anti SGBV and rape groups as well as stakeholders to make the program effective.
The program was graced by scores of women working for different branches of Lone Star Cell MTN, as well as from other sectors of the country.